Burial apparatus.



No. 636,933 Patenfed Nov. l4, I899.

E. B. VOORHEES. B URIAL APPARATUS.

(Application filed May 8, 1899.)- (No Modal.) 2 Sheets-Shoot l.

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- U ITED STATES.

EMORY B. VOORHEES,

PATENT OFFICE.

or OVID, MICHIGAN.

BURlAL APPARATUS. I

SPECIFICATION formingpart ;of Letters Patent No. 636,933, dated November 14., 1899.

' Applioationfiled May 8,1899. senate. 716,968. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern: A

Be it known that I, EMORY B. VooRHEEs, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ovid, in the county of Clinton and State of Michigan, have invented a new and useful Burial Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to burial apparatus, and it is more particularly designed as an improvement upon the structure disclosed in United States Letters Patent No. 618,153, is-

sued to me on January 24, 1899.

One object of the present invention is to improve my prior patented structure by making it foldable into a small compass for con-' venience in transportation and storage, and in attaining this end the operating devices are disposed to fold with the frame Without throwing them into such positions as would prevent their assuming inoperative relations when the frame is unfolded for service.

A further object is to provide a canopy structure adapted to be supported overthe apparatus or to be swung to one side thereof, as may be desired, and such structure includes an automatic locking contrivance which will hold the canopy immovably in place when it assumes a proper position over the apparatus.

With these ends in view the invention eonsists in the novel combination of elements and in the construction and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete apparatus with the canopy applied thereto, a part of the frame or casing at one end being broken away to illustrate the sectional brake-shaft. Fig. 2 is-a perspective view with the canopy removed and showing the frame in its folded condition for transportation or storage. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section through one end of the frame, illustrating the reel-shafts, the gearing connecting the same, and the jointed brake mechanism which is foldable with the members of the frame. Fig.4 is a vertical section through the standard'of the canopy and a part of the canopy itself. Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the locking-joint between the canopy and its supporting-standard. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the two-part brake-shaft, illustrating the foldable joint.

Fig. 7 is a'detail view of one of the guides,

which is adapted to depend from the framework of the apparatus within the grave or vault for guiding the casket as it descends.

- The same numerals of reference are used to indicate like and corresponding parts in each of the several figures of the drawings.

' The burial apparatus of my present invention is constructed to embody the generic features of the apparatus disclosed bymy prior patent, to which reference has been made; but to render the apparatus more convenient in transporting or storing the same I have constructed the frame in a manner to facilitate its folding into a compactspace.

The frameworkis divided longitudinally at the middle thereof to produce two sections 10 11, which are connected at their contiguous portions by the hinges or joints 12. The sectional frame is of skeleton and chambered construction to enable the operating devices of the apparatus to be housed or contained therein, and within the sides of the divided frame are disposed the shaft-bearings 13, a suitable number of these bearings being pr0- vided in the side of each frame-section to properly support the reel and curtain shafts. The hinges or joints 12,which unite the two members of the frame, are disposed on the upper edges of the sections in order that the ends of said frame members may be unfolded into abutting relation. The frame members are adapted to be folded one upon the other; but when the apparatus is to be adjusted for service one frame member is turned on the hinges to lie in the same horizontal plane as the other frame member, and thus the two frame members are adapted to abut against each other. This disposition of the hinges and adaptation of the frame members is an important feature in the construction of the apparatus, because the frame members are prevented from collapsing under the weight of the casket when it is being lowered into the vault, and thus any tendency of the parts to give way or become deranged in the service of the apparatus is entirely overcome.

Within the sides of the divided hinged frame are disposed the.horizontal shafts 14 15, one of which is journaled in suitable bearings 13 in each part of the frame, and to one end of said shafts are secured the sprocketgears 16, which are engaged by the endless sprocket-chain 17. This sprocket-chain connects the two shafts for rotation simultaneously to insure uniformity in the unwinding of thelowering straps or cables on which the casket is adapted to rest, and one of the reelshafts, preferably the shaft 15, is extended or prolonged beyond one end of the frame for the reception of an operating-crank 18, by which the shafts may be rotated for the purpose of rewinding the lowering straps or cables on the spools of the shafts.

As in my prior patent, to which reference has been made, the spool-shafts are provided with the brake-disks 19, preferably near the end where the sprocket-gears are fastened, and these brake-disks are partly encompassed by the brake-straps 20. A brake-operating shaft 21 is disposed in bearings transversely across the frame in a position to engage with the two brake-straps for simultaneously compressing or releasing said straps to and from engagement with the disks on the spoolshafts, and one end of the brake-shaft is extended beyond one side of the housing for the reception of a crank-handle 22 for convenient operation of the brake-shaft. It will be noted that the brake-shaft extends across the joint or hinge between the frame-sections at one end thereof, and to enable the frame to be folded, as hereinafter described, I find it necessary to construct the brake-shaft in two sections (indicated at 21 and 21 and to join the sections together in a plane coincident with the hinge between the frame-sections. The adjacent ends of the shaft-sections are recessed, as at 24, and in said recessed ends of the shaft-sections are fitted the ends of a connecting-link 23, which is pivotally connected at 25 to the members of the shaft. By disposing the joint between the shaft-sections in the vertical plane of the hinge between the frame members and by mounting the respective shaft-sections in bearings in said frame members the brake-shaft is adapted to fold with the frame members, the joints between the two-part frame and the two-part shaft being in the same vertical plane; but when the frame is unfold ed the shaft unfolds therewith and occupies an operative relation to the brake-straps of the spool-shafts, the link 23 connecting the two members of the brakeshaft together in a manner to insure simultaneous rotation of said shaft members.

The longitudinal spool-shafts 14 15 are provided at suitable intervals with the spools or reels 26, to which are connected the lowering straps or cables 27, and these straps or cables extend across the open frame and are connected with the spools, substantially in the manner disclosed in my prior patent, for the purpose of lowering a casket into the vault and of permitting the straps to be rewound on one of the shafts. I have also simplified the curtain mechanism disclosed in my prior patented structure by making the side curtains operable independently of each other and disposing the end curtains for detachable connection either with the ends of the frame or with the side curtains.

The side-curtain shafts 28 are journaled in proper bearings on the sides of the frame and below the spool-shafts, and each curtain-shaft is provided at one end with a crank-handle 29. The side curtains 30 are attached to the shafts in any improved way, and the crankhandles may be operated independently for rotating the shafts 28 to coil the side curtains thereon separately. The end curtains 31 are provided with fastening devices 32 of any suitable character adapted to be connected detachably either to the ends of the frame or to the side curtains, as may be desired; but itwill be noted that the end curtains are adapted to be adjusted by hand and irrespective of the side curtains.

In my present invention I employ guiderods 33, arranged to depend from the sides of the frame in positions to direct the casket as it is being lowered into the vault; but to facilitate the folding of the guide-rods 33 I prefer to make the upper ends thereof flexible, as at 34. The flexible ends of said guiderods are provided with hooks or eyes 35, adapted to engage with eyebolts 36, which are fastened to the sides of the frame. These guiderods serve to retain the side curtains in proper relation to the frame and the walls of the vault, and they also direct the casket against lateral swaying as it is being lowered.

In my present apparatus I employa means for supporting the canopy which permits the latter to be adjusted in ahorizontal plane for assuming a position at one side of the apparatus to enable the attendant to gain access thereto or to permit the pall-bearers to lodge the casket upon the lowering-straps without hindrance from the canopy, and with the supporting devices for said canopy is combined a locking contrivance, which serves to automatically fasten the canopy against movement when it assumes a position directly over the apparatus.

The canopy is supported by a vertical standard 37, which is adapted to have pivotal connection at its upper end with the canopy, and the lower end of this standard is connected detachably to the frame for the purpose of removing the standard and canopy previous to folding the frame. The lower end of said canopy-standard is forked or bifurcated to provide a foot 38, and in the frame members 10 11 on opposite sides of the hinge 12 are produced vertical sockets 39, which are adapted to receive the branches of the forked standard-foot, whereby the foot is adapted to straddle the hinge or joint between the frame members and prevent any tendency of said frame members to fold in an upward direction when the canopy is attached to the frame. The upper end of the standard is provided with an annular head-flange 40, which has a notch 41 cut therein in the vertical plane of the hinge or joint between the frame members, for a purpose which will presently appear, The canopy 42 may be of any suitable or preferred construction; but, as shown by the drawings, this canopy is divided longitudinally for a part of its length to permit the members of the canopy to be folded. This construction of the canopy is not, however, essential, because it may be constructed in any other suitable way to facilitate folding of the parts. At one end-the canopy is provided with a short vertical post 43, which is adapted to fit in to a socket at the upper end of the standard 37, whereby the post and canopy may turn in a horizontal plane to throw the canopy at one side of the vertical plane of the apparatus. The canopy and standard are interlocked detachably together by a suitable form of detent, and in the drawings this detent is shown as consisting of a locking-spring 44, having one end thereof fastened securely to the short post 43. This spring is arranged on the canopy-post to enter the notch 41 in the head-flange of the standard 37, and when the canopy is turn-ed to assume a position directly over and in a vertical plane of the frame this spring 44 is adapted to snap into the notch of the head flange, thereby locking the canopy against movement on the standard. It is evident that the locking-spring may be retracted by hand from engagement with the notched flange, and the canopy maythen be moved in a horizontal plane for the post 43 to turn in the socket, and in this horizontal adjustment of the canopy the spring 44 may ride against the smooth edge of the head-flange 40 on the standard, thus enabling the canopy to turn freely and withoutrestraint from the locking-spring until the latter snaps into the notch of the flange.

Changes in the form, proportion, size, and the minor details of construction within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of this in- Vention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is-- 1. A burial apparatus consisting of a fold able frame, a lowering mechanism housed Within the members of said frame and foldable therewith, and a brake mechanism including a jointed operating-shaft arranged across the foldable frame, substantially as supported in the respective members of said frame, brake devices in active relation to the shafts of said lowering n1echanism,a sectional brake-shaft connected with said brake devices, and a link-hinge pivotally attached to, and spanning the space between, the respective members of the brake-shaft to couple them together for simultaneous rotation in their alined positions, said link-hinge arranged in a plane coincident with the hinge connection between the frame members, substantially as described.

3. A burial apparatus consisting of a sectional frame having its members jointed or hinged together at the upper side thereof and arranged for said members to abut one against the other when unfolded for service, said hinges and frame members being related for the strain of the load to draw the members into abutting relation and against collapsing, a lowering mechanism supported by the respective parts of said frame to be folded therewith, brake devices cooperating with the elements of the lowering mechanism, and a sectional brake-shaft operatively connected to the brake devices and having its members jointed or hinged together in a plane coincident with the, joint between the members of the foldable frame,substa'ntially as described.

4. A burial apparatus consisting of a sectional frame having its members jointed to fold one upon the other, a lowering mechanism supported in the respective members of the frame, and curtain-shafts journaled in the frame members to be foldable therewith and provided with curtains,the curtain-shafts being independentone from the other and adapted to be separately operated and to fold with the lowering mechanism in the folding and unfolding of the frame members, substantially as described.

5. A burial apparatus consisting of a sectional foldable frame having its members hinged or jointed to fold one upon the other, a lowering mechanism mounted in the respective members of said frame to be foldable therewith, curtain-shafts journaled in said frame below the lowering mechanism and provided with side curtains, said shafts being disconnected from and operable independently of each other, and end curtains having means for detachably holding the same in position below the frame, substantially as described.

6. In a burial apparatus, the combination with a frame carrying a lowering mechanism,

and a canopystandard connected to said frame, of a canopy having pivotal connection with said standard, and an automatic locking device between the canopy and standard and arranged for the elements of said device to have interlocking engagement when the canopy assumes a position directly over the frame, said locking device adapted to be released for 'the canopy to be moved to one side of the frame, substantiallyas described.

7. In a burial apparatus,'the combination with a frame carrying a lowering mechanism, and a canopy-standard, of a canopy having a pivotal post connected to said standard, and a two-part automatic locking device between the standard and the pivotal post, one element of the locking device being yieldable with relation to the other element and said elements arranged to have interlocking engagement automatically when the canopy assumes a horizontal position directly over the frame, substantially as described.

8. In a burial apparatus, the combination with a frame, of a canopy-standard connected thereto and provided at its upper end with a notched flange, a canopy having a post fitted to said standard to pivotally connect the canopy thereto, and a locking-spring movable with said canopy and adapted to engage with the notched flange, substantially as described.

9. A burial apparatus consisting of a twopart frame having its members hinged together, a lowering mechanism Within said frame, a canopy-standard connected detachably to said frame to hold the members thereof against movement relatively one to the other, and a canopy supported by said standard, substantially as described.

10. A burial apparatus consisting of a twopart frame having its members hinged together and provided with sockets, a lowering mechanism in said frame, a canopy-standard provided with a forked foot adapted to the sockets of said frame for holding the frame members against movement relatively one to the other, and a canopy supported by said standard, substantially as described.

11. A burial apparatus consisting of a sectional foldable frame having its members hinged or jointed to fold one upon the other, a lowering mechanism contained therein, and casket guides or rods arranged to depend from the sides of the frame or housing, to direct the casket as it is being lowered into the vault, the said rods or guides being flexible at the upper ends to facilitate folding the same and adapted to yield for fitting in large or small graves 0r vaults, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EMORY B. VOORHEES.

Witnesses:

F. R. EVERETT, W. J. MARTIN. 

